Friday, 8 August 2014

We spent an extra night in Ramsgate so that we could take a day trip to Canterbury Cathedral, a center of the Anglican Church and site of the murder of Thomas Becket. We also attended an Evensong Service, which was a first for me.

A rather uneventful series of passages from Portsmouth to Brighton to Eastbourne to Ramsgate to Harwich to Ipswich. Lots of planning required to work with the currents and tides. We spent over 4 hours planning the passage through the Thames Estuary, then had to change our route to avoid a new wind farm.

Passat II at Hasslar Marina in Portsmouth.

One of 3 forts in the shallows at the mouth of Portsmouth Harbor. One is now a 5 star hotel.

This is one of the most interesting warships ever made. It was an iron hulled sailing battleship, with steam axillary power. So far ahead of its time that it never had to fire a shot in anger. It was known that no ship of its day could damage her. She was saved from the scrap yard as the cost of dismantling her was considered too high. She ended up as a bulk fuel barge before being rescued.

The restoration is stunning.

One of the last warships to have a figurehead.

It took up to 16 men to steer her. 8 on deck and 8 on the deck below.

It took over 700 men to sail her. Look at all those lines, each with a name.

Cook stove for 700 crew.

Furnace room for the auxiliary steam engine.

All ahead slow.

The engine.

Model, showing how the propeller was lifted out of the water to reduce drag. It took 500 men on the windless to raise it.

We stayed an extra day in Portsmouth to take in the Submarine and Warrior museams.

Modern day mini-sub.

Deep sea rescue vehicle.

Modern deep sea diver suit.

The first British Sub was the Holland I. It was designed by an Irish American named Holland. It had to be towed close to it's target. On the surface it used a gas engine and underwater it used an electric engine.

Thursday, 7 August 2014

We take a day trip to London to walk the Thames waterfront and check out the opportunities for moorage for the winter.

Big Ben strikes 12 noon.

Near the Parliament buildings.

The Tower of London.

Tower bridge.

A bridge opening delays our passage across Tower Bridge.

A spiral building on the Themes.

St Paul's from the Millennium Bridge.

London Skyline.

We check out St Katherine's Dock Marina. It is a little "island" of peacefulness in the center of London. We could stay the winter for a mere $1,400 a month, plus $200 a month for power. A bit too rich for our budget. However, we hope to come for a short stay in the Spring of 2015.